HEAVEN'S BURNING is a slick albeit low budget Australian thriller about a heist gone wrong and two oddball characters who find themselves pursued cross-country by various villains, from psycho exes to Afghani torturers. It's a film made by Russell Crowe on the cusp of his Hollywood stardom; I think his next film turned out to be L.A. CONFIDENTIAL, and we all know where he went from there. He gives a solid, edgy performance as the hardman lead, and his relationship with the Japanese girl is well judged. The rest is a mix of genres and a Tarantino-esque vibe, but it's all a little too familiar and a little underwhelming to be that effective.
Review of Heaven's Burning
